Rangers defender James Tavernier is gearing up for full-throttle Celtic clash

JAMES TAVERNIER is desperate for Rangers to put the brakes on Celtic’s charge towards a seventh title in a row.

The full-back insists a victory for the Ibrox side over their Glasgow rivals today would be good for Scottish football.

The 26-year-old Yorkshireman is a keen viewer of Formula One, but believes motorsport fans are tired of one team winning in a procession.

Celtic have been even more dominant than Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.

They’re going for a fifth consecutive Drivers’ Championship, while the Hoops are currently on course for their seventh Premiership title on the trot.

Tavernier said: “I’m a Formula One fan. I’m watching some testing at Barcelona at the moment.

“Normally, we have Mercedes just taking off with the title.

“You always want some competition, no matter who you support.

“I am big Lewis Hamilton fan, but I’ve heard that Ferrari and Red Bull are right behind him, so that will make it interesting this year.

“You always want a challenge for that title, so it’s only healthy for Rangers and Celtic to challenge for the title.

“If it’s this season, it’s this season. But if it’s next season, it has to be healthy for Scottish football.

“We’ve had to up our game since joining this division.

“If we keep upping it, Celtic will as well, so that’s good for the Scottish league and the neutrals.

“It’s definitely too early to say if we can win the league this season.

“Celtic are six points ahead with a game in hand. We have just got to be right on their toes.

“We can’t afford any slip-ups away from the Old Firm games, so that if they do slip up at any stage, we’re right behind them.

“I don’t believe there’s as much pressure on us as is there is on them at the minute.

“They have the title in one hand. But you hear stories of underdogs coming through.

“Liverpool, for example, were underdogs when they won the Champions League.

“You just go underneath the radar, win every single game and just see what you can do.”

The news that Rangers’ players cheered after being drawn against Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final didn’t go down well in some quarters.

It was seen as a display of over-confidence, or even a touch of arrogance.

Tavernier jokes that it was really about his choice of music for the dressing room!

On a slightly more serious note, he maintains it shows the Rangers players just love playing in this fixture.

“I thought the cheering last Sunday was because of the music I put on after the game,” the full-back continued.

“It was Drake – God’s Plan. That’s what I thought the boys were on about!

“But you always want to play Celtic because it’s the biggest game of the season.

“As many games as you can play against them, the better.

“It’s up there with the biggest derbies in the world, and we relish playing in it.”

Tavernier has captained Rangers recently and his form has seen some pundits mention him as a candidate for Player of the Year.

The Englishman is grateful for the advice of two former international full-backs – his club boss, Graeme Murty, and his assistant, Jimmy Nicholl.

Nicholl knows all about the Old Firm game and his influence could be important in the home dressing room today.

“I have had one-on-one sessions with the manager, and since Jimmy Nicholl came in, he has helped me out massively as well,” said Tavernier.

“It’s always good to have someone who has played your position, and who has their own opinion.

“Jimmy was demanding high standards in training from the moment he arrived.

“In half-time talks, he’s always got his opinion, and the boys always take in what he says because he’s such a respected character.”